Kika Tech, the US-based developer of a keyboard app for smartphones, received $33m yesterday from backers including internet company Cheetah Mobile to boost the size of its series B round to $63.6m.
The series B+ round also included QianKunHanHai, China Prosperity Capital and Five Stars Capital. It is being added to a first tranche sized at $30.6m that was raised in February and co-led by Honge Capital and angel investors Bole Zongheng and Zhu Ye.
Founded in 2014, Kika Tech has created a keyboard for smartphones running the Android operating system. Kika Keyboard offers customisation, emojis and other features, and has been downloaded more than 150 million times.
Kika will use the money to support its further expansion across the US, India, Brazil and Mexico and to expand its offering. The company has not disclosed details about its series A round.
Bill Hu, CEO of Kika Tech, said: “We are also now ready to extend our product line and strengthen our investment in the research and development in robots, voice engine, automobiles and other smart devices’ input interaction, so as to continue our efforts in building the largest next-generation keyboard globally.”